Active sites,nature and mechanism of carbon dioxide—propylene oxide copolymerization and cyclization reactions employing organozinc—oxygen catalysts

Reaction of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide in the presence of catalysts with condensed zinc species (;derived from diethylzinc and dihydric phenols, e.g. catechol _o? C₆H₄(;OH)₂ and saligenin ₀? HOC₆H₄CH₂OH) yields poly(;propylene carbonate) as well as propylene carbonate. The above reaction in the presence of catalysts with noncondensed zinc species (;derived from diethylzinc and phenol) yields propylene carbonate as the main product, but in relatively low yield. The mechanism of the linear and cyclic carbonate formation is discussed in terms of the nature of the catalyst's active sites for both types.